O’Cahan Cup
Tir na nOg 5-8 St. James Aldergrove 0-4
Both sides went into this game missing players but it was Tir na nOg who proved the much more clinical and decisive in the scoring zone who would advance with something to spare at Whitehill on Friday night.
It was visitors, St. James Aldergrove who got off to the better start however as they raced into an early three point lead with Matthew MacGeady pointing them ahead and Corey Foggarty adding a fine 2 pointer by the third minute.
The Crumlin side, who will be playing their football in Division 2 this year only flattered to deceive however and the impressive Connor Hastings replied with two points at the other end before Connor McCamphill gave them the lead with the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.
Tir na nOg were starting to move the ball around at pace and they breeched the visitors defence for a second goal and this time it was towering mid-fielder, Ciaran O’Neill who applied the finish.
The Randalstown side continued to press and Oliver McAtamney was on hand to finish to the net for their third goal after a mistake in defence and a point from O’Neill saw the home side lead 3-2 to 0-3 at the break.
It wouldn’t get any better for the Crumlin side on the restart with Aodhan Tolan splitting the posts in the opening minute and Connor Hastings converting a 4th minute free.
Conor McGarry got Aldergrove going again from a free in the 6th minute and the visitors were given a let-off when Hastings blasted wide with the goal at his mercy at the other end.
McGarry from another free brought the St. James’ tally to 0-5 for the evening but they were getting no change from a Tir na nOg defence where Brandon McLarnon and Ciaran McGrellis were sweeping up everything that came their way.
Back came Tir na nOg and a long delivery from Ciaran O’Neill deceived Oisin McGarry and ended in the net for the hosts fourth major of the evening and when Emmet Murray punished another defensive mix-up with a close range finish it was all over.
Connor Hastings from a free and Aodhan Toland with a good point from play concluded the scoring as the Whitehill men ran out winners by 19 points and they can be well pleased by a comprehensive performance that augers well for the season ahead.
They begin their division 1 campaign with a home fixture against St. Mary’s Aghagallon while St. James will play their football in division 2 this year and will hope to get a number of their missing players back into action for the league opener against St. Enda’s next weekend.
Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Manus Smyth, 3 Brandon McLartnon, 4 Daniel McLornan, 5 Ryan Crilly, 6 Ciaran McGrellis, 7 Aodhan Tolan, 8 Ciaran O’Neill, 9 Joshua Higgins, 10 Sean McKeown, 11, Oliver McAtamney, 12 Pauric Redmond, 13 Emmet Murray, 14 Connor Hastings, 15 Connor McCamphill
St. James: 1 Oisin McGarry, 2 Emmet Magee, 3 Aiden Ervine, 4 Lonan Magee, 5 Conor Totten, 6 Chris McVeigh, 7 Fearghal Hanna, 8 Corey Fogarty, 9 Conleth Hendron, 10 Sean Patrick Fay, 11 Oisin Graham, 12 Eoin Hamill, 13 Cormac McGarry, 14 Liam McGarry, 15 Matthew MacGeady
Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)
